True, the craftsman was a nobleman
now, but such he had always been!
Forgue mooned about, doing nothing, and recognizing no possible help
save in what was utter defeat. If he had had any faith in Donal, he
might have had help fit to make a man of him, which he would have
found something more than an earl. Donal would have taught him to
look things in the face, and call them by their own names. It would
have been the redemption of his being. To let things be as they
truly are, and act with truth in respect of them, is to be a man.
But Forgue showed little sign of manhood, present or to come.
He was much on horseback, now riding furiously over everything, as
if driven by the very fiend, now dawdling along with the reins on
the neck of his weary animal. Donal once met him thus in a narrow
lane. The moment Forgue saw him, he pulled up his horse's head,
spurred him hard, and came on as if he did not see him. Donal shoved
himself into the hedge, and escaped with a little mud.
CHAPTER L.
A SOUTH-EASTERLY WIND.
One morning, Donal in the schoolroom with Davie, a knock came to the
door, and lady Arctura entered.
"The wind is blowing from the south-east," she said.
"Listen then, my lady, whether you can hear anything," said Donal.
"I fancy it is a very precise wind that is wanted."
"I will listen," she answered, and went.
The day passed, and he heard nothing more.
Pages:
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409